Of fucking course Sony said no. not a single company in existence would say yes to extortion. Do you really think the hackers would actually give them back the data? or not just sell it anyways even if Sony paid?

Not to mention who in their right mind would even attempt to sell back something they stole to the people they stole it from. that completely reeks of bullshit.

Also its not an item that you can give back. Once its been taken and distributed it can't be given back. Sony would be foolish to pay money on the word of a hacker that they won't release it for some money.